Southwest drops in at Kahului

The first Southwest Airlines test flight to Kahului Airport nears the runway Monday afternoon as Maui residents, airline employees and family members look on. “That was cool to see the first plane,” said Jerry Potter (third from left) of Wailuku. Potter said he welcomed the competition Southwest will bring to the Hawaii market. “Competition and Southwest brought family home.” One airline employee watching from the ground who declined to give her name said the experience on Maui has been positive. “I’m just happy to be here,” she said. “Everybody at this airport is so friendly. This is the nicest airport I’ve seen.” Southwest completed test flights from Oakland, Calif., and from Dallas to Honolulu earlier this month; the tests are part of the federal certification that Southwest must complete before offering flights to Hawaii.

The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo

In addition to building a new hotel next door, owner Peter Savio also wants to renovate parts of the Maui Beach Hotel, including possible upgrades to the lobby.

Guests lounge by the pool at the Maui Beach Hotel on Monday afternoon. Hotel owner Peter Savio said he plans to put âa couple millionâ toward renovations at the hotel, which could include upgrading the lobby, fixing up bathrooms and adding solar panels.

Palm trees sway on the site of the former Maui Palms Hotel in Kahului on Monday afternoon. Peter Savio, owner of the site and the Maui Beach Hotel next door, said that the goal is to start construction on a new hotel on the property by the end of this year. The Maui News / COLLEEN UECHI photo

Baldwin High Schoolâs Holden Ioanis shoots between Kapoleiâs Kainoa Mane and Andrew Jones in the fourth quarter of the Bearsâ 49-41 overtime loss to the Hurricanes in a Snapple Boys Basketball Division I State Championship first-round game Monday at Jon Garcia Gym. The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photos